Daily Update — November 11, 2026
Financing Nuclear’s Comeback; West Africa’s Growth Potential; and Record Political Ad Revenue
Today is Wednesday, November 11, 2026, and here’s your curated selection of Essential Intelligence on global markets from S&P Global. Subscribe to be notified of each new Daily Update.
Energy Expansion
Listen: From ambition to action: Financing nuclear’s comeback
Nuclear is back in the energy conversation, but can the industry attract the capital needed to turn momentum into projects? In this episode of the “EnergyCents” podcast, hosts Hill Vaden and Sam Humphreys spoke with Lola Infante, senior program lead of economics and finance at the World Nuclear Association, about financing nuclear's resurgence, the role of government and private capital, small modular reactors and why making nuclear more "boring" could be the key to scaling the industry.
Economy
Capitalizing on West Africa’s high growth potential
Turning West Africa’s potential into reality depends on how effectively economies convert demographic and commodity advantages into productivity gains. Large commodity projects can lift exports and foreign-exchange earnings. Over the longer term, they can also spur stronger local linkages, infrastructure investment and job creation beyond extractive sectors. The region also needs to accelerate skills development while expanding power and digital infrastructure to support the adoption of new technologies and innovation. Security threats in the Sahel region of Africa will remain a key downside risk, making regional cooperation and institutional resilience critical to preserving investor confidence and supporting inclusive growth.
West Africa is likely to remain economically dynamic. Median real GDP growth in the region neared 6% in 2025, among the highest globally and about 1 percentage point above the emerging market average. The combination of favorable demographics and prospective growth in commodity exports will sustain that growth potential in the coming years.
Sponsored by the S&P Global Institute, Africa Forward: Turning West Africa’s Potential into Reality explores how the region can translate its demographic, natural-resource and economic potential into more resilient and sustainable growth.
Technology & Media
Record Political Advertising Revenue Boosts Local TV Broadcasters' Deleveraging
With the conclusion of US midterm elections Nov. 3, local TV broadcasters reported record preliminary political advertising revenue for 2026. Three of the four local TV broadcasters rated by S&P Global Ratings noted in their third-quarter disclosures that this year’s political ad revenue even exceeded that of previous presidential election years.
Leverage across the peer group has been elevated in recent years due to a combination of debt-financed acquisitions and declines in core advertising and distribution revenue, leading to a dependence on political ad revenue for cash flow. Companies have prioritized debt repayment this year, and S&P Global Ratings expects additional voluntary repayment before year-end.
In case you missed it
- The potential redistribution of large US copper stocks are causing concern among China-based market participants as the metal’s return to the international market could reshape global trade flows.
- Most US bank stocks outperformed the broader market in October, lifting sectorwide valuations close to a year-to-date high.
- Supported by AI-related demand and precautionary stockbuilding, global goods exports continued to expand at the start of the fourth quarter, extending the longest period of trade growth since 2021, according to the Purchasing Managers’ Index surveys.
Upcoming events
- AI and Data: The New Competitive Advantage in Deal-Making | November 12 (Webinar)
- Emerging Trends Shaping BDCs And Asset Managers | November 18 (Webinar)
- Private Credit’s Path to Public Market Efficiency and Liquidity | November 19 (Webinar)